Sainsbury's banned me for life... for forgetting to pay for a tin of cat food

Shelagh Angell, 85, who suffers from dementia had paid for six tins of cat food, but had forgotten she had put one in her bag, along with a newspaper

The last time she went to Sainsbury’s, 85-year-old Shelagh Angell bought six tins of cat food – but accidentally left a seventh in her bag.

But the supermarket was in no mood for forgiveness.

Mrs Angell, who has dementia, was banned from setting foot in any Sainsbury’s branch for the rest of her life – and threatened with police action if she did.

After going through the checkout, she had sat down for a cup of tea in the store’s cafe.

But when she got up to leave, she was apprehended by a security guard who had been watching her.

She was escorted to a back office where she was interviewed by the manager.

She had failed to pay for one tin of cat food and a newspaper – goods worth a total of 99p.

The bewildered great-grandmother, who used to visit the store a few minutes from her home in Castlepoint, Bournemouth, several times a week, apologised, and the manager took back the tin and newspaper.

But the widow then received a letter which read: ‘Dear Mrs Angell, I confirm that the invitation to enter and shop at all Sainsbury’s stores is permanently withdrawn due to the incident in which you were involved on 6/8/11.

Shelagh Angell's letter from Sainsburys confirming she is not allowed to enter the stores

'Should you enter any of our premises you will be treated as a trespasser and the police will be called as necessary.’

Yesterday her family accused Sainsbury’s of being heavy handed in their treatment of Mrs Angell, a former nurse.

Her son Julian Angell, 49, said she was left ‘totally inconsolable’ and would never take anything deliberately.

‘It’s just an age thing,’ he said.
‘She’s been suffering problems with her memory for a few years and it’s
been more noticeable recently.

'She feels very embarrassed and too humiliated to go back, even if she was allowed.

'The saddest thing was that it was about the only shop she could still walk to so it helped her maintain her independence.’

Sainsbury's maintained staff had acted 'entirely correctly at all times and in a dignified, respectful manner' and took great care towards Mrs Angell's well-being

Mrs Angell said: ‘As soon as I saw
the paper I remembered that I had accidentally put it there but I still
have no recollection of the extra tin.

‘It was a frightening experience and I got very muddled.

'I know it is theft but I cannot believe they couldn’t have taken my age or health into account.’

A Sainsbury’s spokesman maintained staff had acted ‘entirely correctly at all times and in a dignified, respectful manner’.

He said: ‘We do not comment on
individual cases but the decision to ban a customer is never taken
lightly and is always a last resort.’

But last night a Sainsbury’s spokesman said that after ‘new information has come to light … we have decided to revoke the ban’.

He added: ‘We will be contacting Mrs Angell and her family in person and we hope she will continue to shop with us in future.’